After leaving government, Perez became a private equity investor with extensive business interests in the Philippines.
Perez served as Energy Secretary for the Arroyo administration from June 2001 to March 2005. During his term, he renewed interest in oil exploration and aggressively promoted the use of clean, indigenous energy sources such as natural gas, geothermal and biofuels.
Perez also played a key role in President Arroyo’s oil diplomacy, by forging strategic energy partnerships with numerous Asian countries, the UK and the US.
He also chaired ASEAN and APEC energy ministers’ meetings and participated in numerous state visits.
He served briefly in early 2001 as Undersecretary for Industry at the Department of Trade and Industry and as Managing Head of the Board of Investments.
Prior to his government service, Perez had extensive investment banking experience in Pittsburgh, London, New York and Singapore.
Nido managing director David Whitby said Perez will bring a vast wealth of Philippines in-country experience to their board.
"As a former Philippine Energy Minister, we are honored that he has been elected to join our board to help us develop our Philippine core business," Whitby said.
Perez obtained an MBA from the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1983 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics from the University of the Philippines.
He has 17 years experience in debt restructuring, capital markets, and private equity in emerging markets, including appointments in Pittsburgh, London, New York and Singapore with Mellon Bank and Lazard Freres, where he was the first Asian partner.
He founded Next Century Partners in 1997, a private equity firm that invested in Smart Communications, Del Monte Pacific and Fastech Synergy.
At present, he is a world fellow at Yale University researching on the global "oil scramble" and renewable energy.
He is also currently an independent director of Henry Sy’s SM Investments Corp., a leading Philippine holding company in retail merchandising, shopping malls, banking and real estate; and an independent director of the Lucio Tan-owned Philippine National Bank, an 89-year old universal bank with more than 90 offices overseas.
The 47-year old former banker is also a member of the National Council of World Wildlife Fund-US.
He is also currently the chairperson of Asian Conservation Co. and El Nido Resorts.